Clutch mechanism for motor vehicles



April 12, 1932. L. sAlvEs 1,853,230

CLUTCH MECHANISM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed July 22. 1929 Patented .Apr. 12, 1932' um-lien STATES PATENr-oFFIcE.

j LEON SAIVES, F IBILLANGOURT, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR TO LOUIS RENAULT, OF BILLANF' COURT, FRANCE' 1 CLUTCH MECHANISM Fort Moron VEHICLES Application filed July 22, 1929, Serial No.

The inventionrelates to the clutch apparatus used on vehicles to couple up the engine shaft to the drive. In certain automobiles, it may be desirable to interpose a declutching servo-motor, when the declutching operation requires a strong effort, due to the use of a very powerful spring maintaining the clutch surfaces in contact. The invention relates more particularly to a control com- 2 prising an electric motor, combined with a V divided into two parts, which can be coupled ;together by a plate clutch for example, one

' of the two parts being operated by the electric servo-motor, whilst the other part carries the declutching fork. A system of two disks, the

contacting faces of .which are provided with cam projections, are carried loose on th1s aux- 'iliary shaft and are in connection respectively with the switch of the electric motor and with the control member, pedal or lever. When this control member is operated, it at first car ies withit in its rotation the disk connected with the switch so as to close the C11- cuit of the electric motor, and subsequently acts by means of the cams upon the auxlhary clutch so as to couple up the two parts of the shaft for operating the declutching fork.

Fig. 1' is a diagrammatic view partly in section of a clutch control apparatus in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view of the connections given 40 :by way of example, of the control pedal with the switch.

On referring to the drawings it will be seen that a shaft 1 is located in line with a sleeve 2, through which passes the shaft 3; the shafts .1 and 3 and the sleeve 2 aresuitably supported on the underframe of the vehicle or on one of its associated members.

The shaft 1 can beset in rotation by an electric motor through a suitable transmission comprising reduction gears 5 and 6. The

380,093, and in malice August 14, 1928.

sleeve 2 is provided with a fork 7 designed for declutching the vehicle or main clutch.

' Onthe end of the shaft 3 projecting beyond the sleeve2'disks 8 and 9 are mounted loose, having projecting cams on their opposed contacting faces. Thrust ball-bearings 4 are located upon the shaft 3between the disk 8 and the sleeve 2 and between the disk 9 and a locknut 10 on the end of the shaft 3. The disk 9 is connected'with a lever 11, which may be the lever of the clutch edal or may be connected with said pedal. imilarly the disk 8 may have attached to it the lever 12 of the switch of the electric motor M or maybe connected therewith. In the construction shown in Fig. 2, the pedal 13, pivoted at 14, operates the leverlll by means of the connecting rod 15; thelever 12 is prolongedat 12 and this part 12 moves over the contacts 16, 16' of the switch. A stop for thelever 12 is located at 17 so as to limit the movement of this lever.

j The shaft 1 carries by means of arms 18an auxiliary clutch plate or disk 19. This plate can be clamped between two plates 20 and 21 attachedrespectively to the ends of the sleeve 2 and of the shaft 3.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

in the case of an ordinary control by a direct declutching pedal. When the driver wishes to decl'utch,.he presses uponthe pedal 13 and, through the intermediary ofthe rods shown in Fig-2,the lever 11 and the disk 9 undergo an angular displacement. The disk'9, by the intermediary of its projecting cam, will carry with it. in :its angular displacement the disk 8 1 and the lever 12 until said lever abuts against v the stop 17 J The lever 12 placement will close the contacts. necessary for starting up the electric motorM. From and after the moment when the lever 12 abuts against the stop 17 any. new displacement of the pedal communicates to the disk '8 and consequently to the sleeve 2 a longitudinal sliding'movement on the shaft 3 so as to cause For the driver the operation is the same as during this dise0- the'engagement of the plates 19, -20 a11d'21! Clutching isthusensured between theshaft: 7 .land the sleeve2. The electric motor, which has been started up as aforesaid,- therefore causes the sleeve 2 to rotate as well as the ated to actuate the vehicle clutch or the like fork 7, which acts upon the main clutch itself.

The declutching having been done, the electric motor continues to rotate keeping up the declutching, slippage between members 20, 21 and 19 taking place as soon as the desired degree of declutching is accomplished.

I claim: I

1. Clutch mechanism for vehicles compristhe desired amount.

In testimony whereof he has signed this specification.

ing, in combination with an electric motor and a driven shaft, two contacting disks mounted on said shaft and provided with inter-engaging cams, a clutchpedal,el'ectrical contacts in circuitlwith the motor, link mechanism connected to the pedal whereby a movement of the latter may open or close said contacts, an auxiliary plate clutch, andconnections whereby movement of one of said interengagingcams with respect to the other will actuate the plate clutch.

2. Declutching apparatus for motor vehicles comprising, in combination with an electric motor, a shaft driven thereby, a second shaft having a declutching fork mounted thereon, two opposed disks carried by said second shaft and having contacting faces provided with interengaging cams, a pedal connected with one of said disks for moving the same, electrical contacts in-circuit with the motor operated by the movement of one of said disks, and an auxiliary clutch for connecting said shafts, whereby the movement of the pedal will open or close the contacts and actuate said auxiliary clutch to operative or inoperative position.

3. Clutch or the'like operating mechanism for motorvehicles including, in combination.

with an electric motor, a shaft to be driven thereby, manually operable mechanism journaled on said shaft, means for'starting'said motor when said manually operable mechanism is actuated, means on said shaft for operating the vehicle clutch or the like when said shaft is rotated, and a clutch permitting slippage associated with'the drive of said shaft by the electric motor when the vehicle clutch or the like has been actuated.

4. Clutch or the like operating mechanism for motor vehicles including, incombination with an electric motor, a shaft to be driven thereby, manually operable mechanism journaled on said shaft, means for starting said motor when said manually operable mechanism is actuated, means on said shaft for operating the vehicle clutch or the like when said shaft is rotated, a clutch permitting slippage associated with the drive of said shaft by the electric motor when the vehicleclutch or the like has been actuated, and means associated with said manually operable mechanismfor operating said clutch whereby the slippage thereof will vary according to the amount said' manua-lly' operable mechanism is oper- 

